Nguyen Tu Hoang, vice chairman in charge of software at Bach Khoa Anti-virus, said the introduction is aimed at changing the status quo of over-the-top apps in Vietnam, mainstreaming them andmaking them the official software in all smart phones instead of being a second choice, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported.

Hoang said at a conference that Btalk puts the functions of free calls and charged calls via telecom networks in one interface and all messaging functions including SMS, Facebook chat, Yahoo! Messenger, and Gtalk in another.

It also allows voice mail, photo share, group chat and call, and video call like all other OTT apps, which are thus named as they are not linked to traditional telecom or Internet service providers, but operate atop established Internet connections.

Hoang said the goal of Btalk is to replace Viber in Vietnam before spreading out globally.

He said the app is designed to adjust call quality to available bandwidth.

In a good range of frequencies, the quality would be raised to HD level, but would remain “good” even otherwise, he said.

The app is now available for download in Android equipment; iOS and Windows Phone versions would be launched in the third quarter this year, he added.